Celebrating History: CM Russell helps war effort

By Emily Mayer

The Havre Plaindealer announced the U.S. government was organizing a National War Savings Day for June 28, 1918. A large advertisement from Gov. Sam Stewart front and center on its June 15, 1918, edition outlined the effort, encouraging Montanans to purchase “either Liberty Bonds, War Certificates, or the humbler, but none the less effective Thrift Stamps.”

The newspaper also carried out more news of food conservation, especially flour and meat. Everyone was encouraged to participate in the various campaigns to raise money for the war effort and be thrifty at home. Even famed artist Charlie Russell was getting into the act, creating two food conservation paintings to Montana State Food Administrator Alfred Atkinson.

One was titled “Hooverizers,” illustrating a cowboy cooking his meal on the prairie using oat and barley grains with his horse looking longingly at the cowboy’s dinner; and “Meat Makes Fighters,” depicting an aging cowboy on a cow pony. Both came with poems, in Russell’s true down-to-earth style:

Hooverizers

I hate to take your grub old hoss but then

I’m leavin’ meat and wheat to fightin’ men

And by you handin’ in your oats to me

The both of us are Hooverizin’-see?

We’re squarin’ up with Uncle Sam

Just kinder helpin’ hold the easy end.

Meat Makes Fighters

I ain’t a wearin’ khaki cause I’m to old a stag

But I’m a handin’ beef and hide to them that holds the flag

Pie and cake is good when folks just feed for fun

But beef and leather plenty puts men behind the gun.

In local news, 26 students graduated from Havre High School in 1918. They were: Marguerite Bickle, Eva Chestnut, Ida Dyer, Velma Britton, Rose Connolly, Harry Gallup, Ben Chestnut, Minnie Greiner, Fred Cruzen, John Nystrom, Minor Holliday, Mary Moore, Amy Hales, Esther LaValley, Walter Lamey, Anna Wilson, Lola Schwartz, Naomi Stead, Mary Ryan, Anna Skylstead, Nellie Stringfellow, June Dove, Mary Stranahan, Leonard Rhoades, Edward Hagen and Gladys Mathews.

Some of the ladies in the Havre Women’s Club attended convention, and one of the duties was to give out a scholarship. One of Havre’s own was on the list:

LOCAL CLUB WOMEN ATTEND CONVENTION

The Havre delegates to the Federation of Womens’ Clubs at Great Falls left here Thursday morning. They were: Mrs. F. F. Bossout, president of District No. 5; Mrs. Joseph Berthelote, Mrs. Earl Clack; Mrs. W. B. Rhoades; Mrs. Frank Jestrab and Miss Marie Yeon.

The federation has offered a prize to girls in the state, of a scholarship in some school, which will be decided at the Great Falls meeting.

There are five contestants from this part of the state: Miss Gladys Mathews of Havre; Miss Leafy Ronne of Chinook; Miss Ruth Serio of Glasgow; Mis Lulu Kemp of Harlem and Thelma West of Malta.

Both the Rhoades and Mathews families were extremely busy this time 100 years ago, according to the Society column:

Rhoades Maris.

On Sunday evening one of the largest church weddings ever solemnized in the city of Havre occurred at the Methodist church, when L. E. Rhoades and Miss Jeanne Maris were united in wedlock. A short musical program proceeded the ceremony, which consisted of a solo by Miss Ling and several organ numbers by Dr. Williams. Promptly at seven o’clock the vested choir began singing the Bridal chorus. The bride was dressed in white georgette crepe, and was attended by Miss Leafy Reigel, who wore a silk-striped voile dress. Both bride and maid carried a bouquet of white and pink carnations. The groom was attended by his brother, Leonard Rhoades. The beautiful ring ceremony was performed by Rev. E. J. Huston assisted by Rev. Van Orsdel. Mr. Rhoades is a popular young lawyer of the city. The bride has been connected with the teaching staff of the Havre schools for some time and has a host of friends in the city. The happy couple will begin housekeeping in their pretty home near the Devlin school.

Mr. and Mrs. Mathews at Home.

Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Mathews arrived in Havre Friday of last week and are now residing in their home on Third street. They were married at Sioux City, Iowa, on the 30th of May. En route home they stopped for a visit with friends and relatives in Minneapolis, the former home of Mrs. Mathews. Mr. Mathews has been a resident of Havre for a number of years, being employed in the establishment of Pat Yeon.

Miss Bickle Given Surprise.

The senior class of the high school gave a surprise party for Miss Marguerite Bickle Monday evening at her home on Third avenue. The rooms were decorated with the class colors, red and white.

As Gladys Mathews and Leonard Rhoades were both members of the Class of 1918, no doubt they were both involved with surprising their fellow classmate.

There was one bit of war-related news in the Society column:

Nurses give Camp Fire Party.

On Saturday evening the nurses of Sacred Heart hospital gave a camp fire party on the hill back of the hospital, in honor of Miss Nell Coad, one of their number, who is to leave for France in the near future. A very delightful evening was spent. Those present were: Misses Bonner, Mariette, Cannon, Leeds, Husted, Wall, Burkett, Susag and Coad.